Halfway Road, Penang

 

 

An Analysis of a Malaysian Play using Feminist Literary Criticism:

The Reality of Representation of Malaysian Women Post-riot May 1969 in

Halfway Road, Penang

Let us first define feminist literary criticism. Feminist literary criticism is a political approach and this ideology questions the relationships of men and women and their roles in society. This literary criticism invokes an awareness of the power imbalances between men in women. Hence, the marginalization of women happens in patriarchal society. Therefore, feminist theories invoke an awareness to the patterns of thought, the values, behaviour, and power in men and women and their relationships as portrayed in literature. Appleman (2007) highlights the objective of feminist literary criticism which reflect the concern with the silencing women as they live in patriarchal culture,

Feminist literary critics remind us that literary values, conventions, and even the production of literature, have themselves been historically shaped by men. They … ask us to consider viewing familiar literature through a feminist perspective.

This analysis will discuss patriarchal society in Malaysia after this country gains its independence from British imperialism in 1957 through Halfway Road, Penang. This dramatic work is included in Malay canon and this work is categorized as high literature as this dramatic work reflects the reality of Malaysian society after May 1969. The intermarriage theme between two major races in Malaysia portrayed in this dramatic work is a symbol of  the situation of Malaysian multicultural society. However, the marriage turns into a failure and this can be interpreted as the situation of the various races in Malaysia and their inability to reach a mutual understanding. Moreover, female characters in this dramatic work is expected to obey the patriarchal society instead of being independent women as patriarchal culture is deep rooted with their custom and religion. This analysis will discuss the patriarchal society in Malaysian society as depicted in Halfway Road, Penang.

Summary of Halfway Road, Penang

Halfway Road, Penang is a dramatic work written by Professor Ghulam Sarwar Yousof. This dramatic work highlights the interracial issues in Malaysian society after a race riot which happened on May 13, 1969. Two main characters in this dramatic work, Rosnah who belongs to Malay race and Krishnamoorthy is Indian, have decided to marry each other despite the racial tension among races in Malaysia after the May 1969 riots.

However, their plan to marry each other face harsh opposition from their family. Krishnamoorthy is born and raised in modern Malaysia. Thus, he has a sense of being a loyal Malaysian as he witnesses different races live together in this country. Therefore, he is unable to understand his parent’s divided loyalties to India and to Malaysia. As Krishnamoorthy’s mother, Letchumi has a sense of being Indian in India instead of Malaysia as she mentions that their family may need to return to India. She upholds strong Indian tradition as she reminisces the superiority of her family’s class, Brahmin India.

In order to marry Rosnah, Krishnamoorthy announces his intention to become a Muslim. Krishnamoorthy’s intention to give up his ancestral religion in order to marry a Malay woman causes a negative response from both of his parents. This is because his parents believe that Krishnamoorthy giving up his superior Brahmin status is a great sin. Moreover, Krishnamoorthy’s parents are still worried about the racial concern after May 1969 riots. Hence, Krishnamoorthy’s involvement with other race will cause negative outcome in term of race and religion. Hence, both of his parents use various means to obviate Krishnamoorthy’s decision to marry Rosnah.

However, all of their efforts are unfruitful as Krishnamoorthy and Rosnah get married. Later, their marriage fails as Krishnamoorthy is unable to support Rosnah and he is subconsciously still attached to his old ancestral religion despite being a Muslim after marrying Rosnah. Due to the failure of their marriage, Rosnah decides to leave Krishnamoorthy. Krishnamoorthy tries to win her back, however, his effort is unfruitful. At the end of this play, Krishnamoorthy is left without a sense of direction (Ackermann, 1974).

An Analysis on Gender Issue in Halfway Road, Penang

The men in Halfway Road  have a better opportunity to further their studies compared to the women. Nalini who is Krishnamoorthy’s match from India is an illiterate woman. Nalini is expected to become Krishnamoorthy’s future wife. Krishnamoorthy’s mother, Letchumi views that Nalini possesses the skill to become an ideal housewife and this seems to be more important compared with Nalini’s level of education. As Letchumi mentions that, ‘…Nalini is a good cook and she sews – so our relatives in India have informed us. And even if she doesn’t speak English what does it matter? Tamil is good enough for us’ (pp. 29 – 30). Living in patriarchal society, Letchumi is unable to understand the importance of education for women. Rengasamy’s and Letchumi’s daughter, Rani who is about 16 years old will get married once she finishes her examination. Rani has possessed the skill to run a house in order to fulfil the criteria of being an ideal housewife to his future husband. As Rengasamy states his decision to marry her daughter to a wealthy man so that she could live a good life,

Rengasamy: …She’ll [Rani] be completing her Form Five this year at the Convent.

Kuppusamy: And then, she’ll be going on into the H.S.C. ah?

Rengasamy: No.. lah. There’s no need for that, really. Girls don’t have to be highly educated, you know. Letchumi has given her all the training she will ever need to run a house. We’re looking to see if we can get her married off after the exams in December.

Kuppusamy: That’s a good idea. She’s been engaged already-ah?

Rengasamy: Yes. After a few months you left for India.

Kuppusamy: To?

Rengasamy: To the second son of Narayanaswamy. You know, the Narayanaswamy of Ulu Pinang Estate?

Kuppusamy: Oh yes. Oh yes. I’ve heard of him. Very good family. Very wealthy.

Rengasamy: We’re fortunate of that, Kuppusamy. Good families with money are hard to come by. I really don’t believe we should keep daughters at home any longer than is absolutely necessary. Letchumi agrees with me in this (pp. 34 – 35).

While male characters in Halfway Road have better opportunity to further higher education compare to the female, as both Rengasamy’s and Nalini’s sons, Krishnamoorthy and Gopal are given an opportunity to further their education. In Act Two, Letchumi mentions that Gopal pursues his study in medical college in Bombay. However, Gopal did not do well in his studies in medicine. While Krishnamoorthy was given an opportunity to study in Further Education Classes. Later, Krishnamoorthy failed Further Education Classes. In short, the level of education for women is of no importance for Malaysian society, as long as these women possess the skill to run a house in order to fit the society’s expectation of being an ideal housewife for their husband.
 

Malay women are expected to become a housewife, as well. Instead of being given freedom to choose their career, ideal Malay women are expected to get married. Hence, his husband will become the sole breadwinner for their family and he would support their parents in term of financial matter. In Act One, Salleh is ashamed with his step daughter’s profession as a bar waitress. Thus, he suggests Halimah that their daughter, Rosnah should get married,

Let Rosnah get married so that her husband can contribute to our family’s income, or at least be able to support Rosnah, so that she can stay at home like a good Muslim woman should. After all, a woman’s place is in the home (p. 9).

Clearly, women in Halfway Road, Penang could not enjoy the same benefit as men. Women are lacking access to further their education. Female are raised to become an ideal housewife. Society upholds an expectation toward women to become a good housewife instead of being an independent woman.

The patriarchal society in Malaysia as depicted in Halfway Road, Penang leads to negative consequences to women as these women become dependent on their husband in term of financial matter. Hence, these women face financial crisis when their husbands neglect their responsibility. This situation is portrayed in Halimah’s situation after his husband left him. In order to support her family as a single mother to her family, she works as a bar waitress. Later, Halimah’s daughter, Rosnah faces the same situation as her marriage with Krishnamoorthy fails when Krishnamoorthy neglects her. Hence, this situation leads Rosnah to continue her profession as a bar waitress in Hibiscus Bar. In Act Two, Rosnah’s husband, Krishnamoorthy tries to win her. However, both Rosnah and Krishnamoorthy argue with each in their unexpected reunion. As Rosnah expresses her disappointment towards Krishnamoorthy,

Yes, all your money goes into these slimy bars and brothels. You stink of Halfway Road. You came back home every night drunk, only after a few weeks of marriage. What did you expect me to do without money, huh? When did you ever give me anything? And how did you expect me to run the house? (p. 58).

In short, the patriarchal society as depicted in Halfway Road, Penang causes adversity to women due to the lack of opportunity for them to become independent by pursuing higher education and choosing their career. However, Rosnah challenges the patriarchal system by leaving her undutiful husband and she becomes an independent woman by supporting herself financially. Hence, Rosnah deviates from the expectation of patriarchal society as this society expects housewife to become a submissive person to her husband.

Patriarchal culture depicted in Halfway Road, Penang creates an adversity of women because patriarchal society shapes women to become dependent on man. Moreover, female character in Halfway Road, Penang such as Letchumi unable to see the importance of woman to pursue higher education and become an independent person. Hence, this situation shows women themselves are lacking the awareness on patriarchal culture that marginalize their power. However, the presence of female protagonist in this dramatic work who challenges patriarchal culture which deep rooted in custom and religion depicts that women should break away from the stereotype of female powerlessness. Hopefully, the equality of privilege between men and women can be created in order to change the patriarchal culture which marginalizes women power.

 

References 

Ackermann, J. M. (1974, Jun 1). 'Halfway Road' is milestone for CLI grantee. Retrieved from Scholar Space: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/17420/1/Culture_LanguageLearningNewsletter_1974_v2_n5%5Bpdfa%5D.pdf

Appleman, D. (2007). Through Rose-Colored Glasses:. Retrieved from Carleton College: https://apps.carleton.edu/people/appleman/talksworkshops/workshop_handouts/rose_colored/

Yousof, G. S. (1971). Halfway Road, Penang. Gelugor: The Asian Centre.